2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

CHAPTER
65
This was some new hell. Some new level of nightmare. I even went so far as to try to
wake myself up.
But there they were—in their nightgowns, the silk and lace dirty, torn.
Elain was quietly sobbing, the gag soaked with her tears. Nesta, hair disheveled as if
she’d fought like a wildcat, was panting as she took us in. Took in the Cauldron.
“You made a very big mistake,” the king said to Rhysand, my mate’s arms banded
around me, “the day you went after the Book. I had no need of it. I was content to let it lie
hidden. But the moment your forces started sniffing around … I decided who better than
to be my liaison to the human realm than my newly reborn friend, Jurian? He’d just
finished all those months of recovering from the process, and longed to see what his
former home had become, so he was more than happy to visit the continent for an
extended visit.”
Indeed the queens smiled at him—bowed their heads. Rhys’s arms tightened in silent
warning.
“The brave, cunning Jurian, who suffered so badly at the end of the War—now my ally.
Here to help me convince these queens to aid in my cause. For a price of his own, of
course, but it has no bearing here. And wiser to work with me, my men, than to allow you
monsters in the Night Court to rule and attack. Jurian was right to warn their Majesties
that you’d try to take the Book—that you would feed them lies of love and goodness,
when he had seen what the High Lord of the Night Court was capable of. The hero of the
human forces, reborn as a gesture to the human world of my good faith. I do not wish to
invade the continent—but to work with them. My powers ensconced their court from
prying eyes, just to show them the benefits.” A smirk at Azriel, who could hardly lift his
head to snarl back. “Such impressive attempts to infiltrate their sacred palace,
Shadowsinger—and utter proof to their Majesties, of course, that your court is not as
benevolent as you seem.”
“Liar,” I hissed, and whirled on the queens, daring only a step away from Rhys. “They
are liars, and if you do not let my sisters go, I will slaughter—”
“Do you hear the threats, the language they use in the Night Court?” the king said to the
mortal queens, their guards now around us in a half circle. “Slaughter, ultimatums … They
wish to end life. I desire to give it.”
The eldest queen said to him, refusing to acknowledge me, my words, “Then show us—
prove this gift you mentioned.”
Rhysand tugged me back against him. He said quietly to the queen, “You’re a fool.”